Golf the High Sierra trip ends at Nakoma – The Dragon!!

By Dennis Miller

The final day of the Golf the High Sierra Media Tour took us into the Graeagle area for a fun-filled day of 36 holes and a wonderful night at The Lodge at Nakoma.

The day started once again with an early start, driving from Truckee to the Graeagle area for a 8:40 a.m. tee time. Joined by my two partners in crime for the week – Matt McKay and Bill Huffman – we fought through winds of up to 30 miles per hour which obviously made the course tougher than usual.

Following the round we made the short trek up Gold Mountain to the Nakoma Resort and the legendary golf course – the Dragon. The course originally was too tough and as a result had few repeat visitors. After suffering through a five-year shutdown due to bankruptcy, property found new management and what a job they have done. The course was softened – it is still a tremendous test of golf, but at least it is much more fair.

In addition, the Lodge at Nakoma was opened a year ago and is a tremendous property. Next up for the development will be a new, monstrous rec center, that when opened next year will be a game changer. We enjoyed a fine dinner and some great wine on the final night in the Wigwam restaurant on the property before retiring for the night.

On Saturday morning it was up early again as McKay and I were asked to co-host his radio show that was being remote broadcast back to Arizona. When a Hall-of-Famer such as Huff asks, it is indeed a privilege and three of us bantered for two hour before we wrapped up and back down the hill to Pleasanton I headed.

One heck of week and yes I am certainly feeling the week, especially in my knee. But as usual the chance to spend a week with old friends like Matty and Huff makes it all worthwhile.

A special thanks goes out to Phil Weidinger and his staff for putting together the week! Thank you Dinger!

I have enjoyed writing this blog this week and look forward to sharing a deep insight to many of the places I played, eat and stayed!!